Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina.
A/N: This chapter concentrates with confronting Motoko and Naru and the introduction with another Urashima. It took me a long time to figure things out with how I was going to set this up. This is what I came up with. Here it is.
Chapter 10
Motoko was looking at Kanako and couldn't believe what she was saying.
"Of course, I'm glad my brother doesn't care about any of you here anymore," Kanako gloated, "it just means that I still have a chance."
"You're his sister, it's disgusting," Motoko pointed out.
"We're not related by blood."
"It doesn't matter, that unnatural attraction you have for your brother…it's not right and besides, why would you want to have a relationship with him anyway?"
"Tch, what would you know about having relationships anyway, I thought you weren't interested."
Motoko was caught off guard a bit but maintained her composure, "I'm not and just because I'm not doesn't mean I'm ignorant."
"Are you sure about that?" Kanako asked, "It seems to me that all of a sudden you think that my brother is still pervert. Why is that?"
Motoko looked away and Kanako raised her eyebrows and decided ask.
"I know at some point you were in love with my brother and you didn't think he was bad, so how come you have fallen in the same pattern?"
"I'll say it again; I don't know what you're talking. It can't be helped that he's hopeless pervert."
"Do you really believe that…or do you believe that because Naru rants about it and a lot more ever since they got together?"
"What does Naru have anything to do with this?"
"Everything, when it comes to taking someone's word, you take Naru over Keitaro and I think I know why."
Motoko got curious, "…Fine, humor me, why do you think that?"
Kanako crossed her arms, "Like me, you were upset that my brother ultimately chose Naru. Over time, you started to feel resentment and whenever Naru complained about my brother, you took those rants as truth. It was easy for you take Naru's side because she, in your mind, would never mislead you."
Motoko shook her head, "That is not true."
"No, it is true, you really thought that you were okay to let my brother go but the truth is that you weren't and you lashed out on him whenever Naru spoke that my brother did something bad. I bet you wouldn't be this stupid if my brother chose you."
"It cost me when I started to have feelings for a male, I was better off not having such emotions, especially someone like Urashima. He was just weak like I originally thought," Motoko declared.
Kanako shook her head, "You really are a sad and pathetic fool. You still don't understand, do you?"
Motoko gripped her sword tightly and balled her left fist tightly.
Meanwhile Naru was surprised to see Nanami Urashima on the third floor.
"Look, Mrs. Urashima," Naru spoke, "I don't know what you think you will gain, but you won't break me down like you did to others and believe me when I say that I think it's pathetic that you're fighting your son's battles."
"My, never one to mince words I see," Nanami replied, "still, I can't figure out how Keitaro could fall for someone who has such violent tendencies and who struck him many times for no reasons."
"Hmph, that's a good questions. I don't why I don't know why I was in a relationship with him in the first place."
"Oh well," Nanami said as she started to walk away.
Naru was surprised, "Wait, where are going?"
"I'm leaving, why?"
"Didn't you come here to lecture me and talk about how kind and nice your son is and how I messed up?"
Nanami raised her eyebrows as if she was surprised, "If you couldn't see that for yourself, what good would it do for me to tell you? Besides, no matter what I say, you already made up your mind what you see in my son and you're the type of person that has no conscious, who not remorseful, and s selfish spoiled little girl with a serious anger problem. Why would anyone really put with you in the first place? I'm glad my son opening his eyes and saw that you were not meant for him. He deserves happiness and he wasn't going to get that from you and that's all. I'm not going to bother with you since I know all I need to know about you anyway."
"You don't know anything about me," Naru countered.
"You're a brat that lashes out on people for silly or no reason, that all I need to know."
"That's not it at all, I…you don't know what I went with Keitaro's actions and behavior, having to put up with his perversion and having to worry about the other tenants would have been victimized because of him of his disgraceful act. As for me, you don't know how my life has been, what I had to go through."
"I don't care what you've been through and even if I was remotely interested, it would probably be all lies anyways or you would twist things to make it seem like you're the victim just like the crap you were talking about my son. Besides, it seems that you're quite abusive."
"I'm not abusive," Naru countered.
"Oh really?" Nanami asked sarcastically, "So those things that some of your fellow tenants said about you punching Keitaro when he wouldn't pay attention to you and assumed that he was being perverted or you would put him down for when he was going for Tokyo University or you would physically harm Keitaro when he would talk to another girl until he turned his attention back to you. Remember, the things I just said are actually testimonies from some of your fellow tenants that you claim to be protecting from my son."
"I…I had my reasons and it wasn't like I enjoyed it," Naru tried to justified.
Nanami shook her head, "Oh I'm sure you do and you would want to tell me but like I said, I'm not interested. I would feel sorry for any man that would want to be with you."
Naru was insulted and felt that this Urashima woman had just crossed the line, "I'll have you know there are plenty of guys who would enjoy having me as their girlfriend. Do you know how many guys have asked me out even when I was dating Keitaro?"
Nanami just shrugged, "Well, I'm just glad my son is not one of them and hey, if someone wants to date you and don't mind your mental issues and destructive behavior, that's their business," Nanami looked at Naru like she was disturbed about something, "I would hate to imagine what it would have been like if you were my daughter-in-law."
Nanami walked away shaking at the notion and Naru was shocked. As Nanami was leaving, she chuckled with a thought, "She just couldn't leave well enough alone."
Naru just couldn't believe this and just went back to her room. When she went back to her room, she felt irritated, "Just who the hell does she think she is. She doesn't know anything about me and acts like I'm a just a stupid little kid with a temper tantrum…how dare she…" Naru thought about someone, "Keitaro, you jerk…" Naru felt sad and sat on her floor by the door with held her knees to her face, "This is all your fault."
The bottom steps of the Hinata Inn
The middle aged Urashima in a business suit had just arrived in the inn. She adjusted her glasses a bit and proceeded to go upstairs. She got to the teashop and went inside. When she went inside, she saw that there were no customers and that there was a little blonde girl sitting on one of the stools.
"Pardon, is Haruka in?" the middle aged woman asked.
Sarah nodded and turned, "Haruka, someone's here for you."
Haruka came out and wondered who it was and was surprised to see the person.
"Marumi…" Haruka spoke.
"That's Aunt Marumi to you," Marumi countered glaring at her niece, "just because my mother adopted you as her daughter and Kyoshiro lets you call him by first name only doesn't mean it is okay with me, do you understand?"
"…Y-Yeah, sorry about that…"
Marumi noticed Sarah was looking at her.
"Haruka, are you babysitting?" Marumi asked.
Haruka looked at Sarah, "Sort of…"
"What's your name child?"
"I'm Sarah MacDougal," the American girl spoke.
"You're Seta's adopted daughter."
"Do you know my papa as well?"
"…Yes…" Marumi said although no in a pleasant tone, "You're also one of the brats that been causing trouble here with my nephew." Marumi glared at Sarah and Sarah was not happy about it one bit.
"Anyway Aunt Marumi, what brings you here?" Haruka asked trying to change the subject.
"I heard that Keitaro ran away from this place like a coward," Marumi said looking at Haruka.
"He wasn't being a coward," Haruka countered, "He had his reasons."
"Oh yes, I'm sure," Marumi was being sarcastic and that didn't sit well with Haruka.
"Did you come all the here just to insult Keitaro because if that's the case, you and I are going to have a problem."
"I'm here to see my mother. I'm guessing she's in the inn."
Haruka glared and made sure to keep her cool, "Yes, she is."
"All right, I'm going," Marumi walked out of the teashop but not before she gave Sarah another glare, "It's obvious to me that Seta spoiled you rotten. He always was such a fool."
"Hey! Don't insult my papa!" Sarah got upset and Marumi walked out and went to the inn.
Haruka was not happy about this and looked at Sarah, who puffed her cheeks with anger.
Hinata Inn
There was a knock on the door. Kitsune went to go answer the door.
"Ever since with all that has happened with Keitaro, we've been getting surprise visits," Kitsune said in her head, "I wonder who it is this time."
When Kitsune opened the door, it was a middle aged woman with glasses and a business suit with a serious expression, Marumi.
"I'm looking for Hina Urashima," Marumi said, "She's in, right?"
"Uh, yes," Kitsune answered, "and you are?"
Marumi let herself in, "I'm her daughter, Marumi Urashima."
Kitsune was surprised, "Ah, I see…oh no, another Urashima, no doubt it has something to do with Keitaro," Kitsune was sure that she and the other tenants were going to get bashed on as well.
Hina walked in and was surprised to her daughter, "Marumi, I'm surprised to see you here. What brings you here to visit?"
"Hello Mom," Marumi spoke.
Kyoshiro came in and was surprised to see his sister, "Sis, when did you get here?"
"Kyoshiro, I just go here. I came as fast as I could when heard that Keitaro abandoned his duties and took off." Marumi had an unpleasant tone.
"Marumi, you make sound like my son-"
"Ran like a coward," Marumi finished, "yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
Kyoshiro gritted his teeth at his sister's accusations, "Listen-"
Marumi turned her attention to her mother, "Mom, we need to talk."
"That's fine," Hina replied and went to calm her son down, "Kyoshiro, we'll talk about this later."
"Tch, whatever…" Kyoshiro said and exited out of the inn.
"Let's go to the kitchen," Hina suggested and she and Marumi went to the kitchen.
Kitsune watched the whole thing and had her thoughts, "It seems that Keitaro's Aunt Marumi is not very friendly."
Hina and Marumi were in the kitchen.
"I knew it was going to happen one day," Marumi said.
"What do you mean?" Hina asked.
"Keitaro, being a fool in taking this job that you blindsided him to take and getting himself way over his head and now has left because he couldn't handle it anymore. Could he be anymore foolish?"
"Marumi, why do you take pleasure in insulting Keitaro?" Hina asked upset.
"I don't take pleasure of it. I'm merely saying that there were better ways in handling these little bitches but he didn't bother to do that. Now, things are looking like hell for you."
"First, don't call the tenants here bitches, second, how did you know about this anyway?"
"I don't need to answer that to someone who breaks their promises."
"Marumi, is that why you really came here when Keitaro left?"
"And why not? You broke your promise to me Mom. I expressed to you that I wanted to succeed you in running this place and you agreed and in fact expressed gratitude that I wanted to take your place…but ever since that time that Keitaro was five and some promises, you just cut me off just like that."
"Marumi, please you have to understand, I had my reasons and you know them."
"And now you're reasons have blown up in your face. I never should have promised to you to keep my quiet. I wonder does Keitaro know who the girl he supposedly promised to? Does he know about the circumstances all those years ago?"
"No," Hina answered bluntly, "and I would like to still keep it that way for the time being…at least until I talk to Naru and Mutsumi."
Marumi raised her eyebrow, "Oh really? When do you intend to do that?"
"I don't know yet…"
"My nephew is fool but I'm sure that even he wouldn't be so forgiving if he learns the truth about that promise and what you had been doing all these years. You broke your promise to me and turned this place into an all-girl dormitory and allowed that Narusegawa girl to reside here. You did all this just to get these two together. I have to say, I never would have thought you would be the type of person who played with people's lives."
The old Urashima woman balled her fists and twitched.
That's it for this chapter. The next chapter will go back to Keitaro and his life free from his responsibilities at the Hinata Inn.
